6 Best Backup Batteries 2023 – Buying Guide & Reviews

Unexpected power outages are one of the most annoying things. We have all lost documents and data at one point or another in our lives.

The electricity is cut off, you haven’t saved your job and you’ve wasted the last two hours. It is a feeling of devastation. Unexpected power outages can also cause serious damage to electrical equipment.

But all of this can be avoided. In this buying guide, we take a look at battery backup uninterruptible power systems (UPS). You plug them into the wall and plug in your computer and other devices.

Then when the power is off, the battery turns on and you have enough time to save your work and shut down the computer safely. It’s not the most exciting product on earth, but it’s so worth it to avoid losing work.

We searched for the best backup battery and narrowed it down to 7 products. They vary in size and price, and some of them come with extra features like LCD screens that show how much power you have left.

CyberPower CP1500AVRLCD Smart LCD Backup Battery – Best Overall

The CyberPower CP1500AVRLCD is widely regarded as one of the best uninterruptible power systems in its class. It comes close to the more expensive UPS power supply products, but it gives you extra protection, useful functions, an attractive design, and much more. 

There is a lot to be said about this product, but we’ll start with the stats. It comes equipped with a 1500AV / 900W battery which means it is among the most powerful batteries on this list. 

This means that it is perfect for use with modern, high performance computer systems that require a lot of power to operate. If you are using a PC for gaming or a high performance Mac, you should use a more powerful UPS system like this. 

CyberPower doesn’t say exactly how long it will power your IT facility after the power is removed, but you can expect it to run around 30-40 minutes. 

This gives you plenty of time to save your documents and safely shut down everything, waiting for the power to come back on.

As for the sockets, this emergency power supply is rather well supplied. It has a total of 12 sockets -; 6 are overvoltage protected and connected to the backup battery, the other 6 are just overvoltage protected. 

So you have 6 sockets for computer systems and 6 for other connected devices that will not be affected by a sudden power cut. But these are not the only takes. 

There are also USB and serial ports, telephone / network connectors, and coaxial inputs. This product is therefore the only backup battery for the entire installation of your office. You can plug everything in!

One of the most striking features of this backup battery is the LCD display. This is usually a feature that is only seen in high end battery backup systems and is a really useful feature to have. 

It gives you detailed information about the battery status. Besides, it tells you how much load you are putting on the battery and gives you an estimate of how long it will run when the power is off. 

You are thus perfectly informed, in real time, of the state of your batteries and of the time available to switch them off.

Older and cheaper uninterruptible power systems (UPS) had the ability to correct for power fluctuations (drops and surges) by switching to battery power. 

This protects your electrical devices, but it puts unnecessary strain on your battery and can dramatically reduce battery life. The CP1500AVRLCD solved this problem with Automatic Voltage Regulation (AVR). 

Instead of going on battery power, it corrects for fluctuations while keeping your devices connected to the main power source.

Another feature we love about the CP1500AVRLCD is its appearance. It might sound trivial, but you don’t want an ugly backup UPS installed in your home office next to your high-tech computer. 

It has a sleek black shell and a well-designed front that will fit into modern computer products. In addition, it comes with a three-year warranty that protects your connected equipment up to 500,000 euros. 

If you look at Amazon reviews or read the opinions of other experts, you will quickly realize that this is one of the best uninterruptible power systems on the market. If you can afford it, it won’t disappoint.

APC BE600M1 UPS Battery Backup & # 038; Surge arrester – Editor’s Choice

The APC BE600M1 UPS uninterruptible power supply is a much simpler product than the first one. It is also half the price, which immediately puts it in another category. 

It still protects your electrical equipment from power outages, but it doesn’t come with as many additional features. This product, which was released in 2016, replaced a popular uninterruptible power system that was widely regarded as one of the best products in this price category. 

And he began to acquire a reputation as a worthy successor. It has 5 backup battery outlets, which is pretty impressive for the price. This gives you plenty of space to power an entire computer, without too much hassle. 

What’s more, it has 2 additional surge protected outlets and a USB input. A total of 7 outlets gives you plenty of wiggle room and should be enough for a home or simple office setup. 

There is also room to plug in your wireless router, so that you can maintain an internet connection in the event of a power outage.

The indoor battery is 600VA or 330W. This means that you will have to save your labor and turn off your devices fairly quickly after the power goes out. 

At 100W, the battery will run out in 23 minutes. However, if you are using a relatively small 40W load, it will stay on for 67 minutes. This product is therefore much better for small installations. 

According to the APC, the battery has a lifespan of approximately 3 to 5 years. That’s pretty impressive for a product that costs around $ 50. 

But, according to some reports, the old model lasted 10 years before the battery started to die. If this model is up to the task, it will be one of the best in its class.

One of the main reasons it’s cheaper than the CyberPower CP1500AVRLCD is that it doesn’t have an LCD screen. The biggest downside is that you don’t have any indication of battery status or estimated run time. 

Whether or not you need this feature depends on how important it is not to turn off your electrical equipment. If it is important, it is better to buy a UPS with an LCD display. 

If you play video games through this screen or use it to power a recliner, this system will work just fine.

We also like that it can be mounted on the wall, so you can keep it away from your desk. In addition, it comes with a three-year warranty that protects your electrical equipment up to a value of $ 75,000. If you are looking for a great budget option, this is the one for you.

Tripp Lite 1300VA UPS Battery Backup – Best LCD Display

The Tripp Lite 1300VA UPS Battery Backup is one of the best UPS systems on this list. But, if you are wondering why we did not choose it as the better choice product, it is simply because it is more expensive than the CyberPower CP1500AVRLCD. 

It is quite easy to tell them apart, but they belong to the same category -; they both have big batteries, they both have lots of power outlets and they both have an LCD screen.

The LCD screen is one of the main selling points of this backup battery. It’s bigger than most LCD screens found on similar models, and it lets you get all the information you need, at a glance. 

You can know the input and output voltage, battery voltage, input / output frequency, charge and charge levels, power status, battery status and a estimate of the operating time of the back-up battery. 

But that’s not all – ; this is the most detailed inverter system out there, so if you are a cutting edge technician and want to know everything about your battery, this is the product for you.

It’s a bit thin on the ground when it comes to ports and sockets. Considering the price, we were surprised to find that it only had 4 battery backup outlets and 4 surge protected outlets. 

This should be sufficient for personal installation, but there are better options for office use. In addition, it has a telephone and network line, a coaxial input and a USB port. As we said, it’s not the most impressive in terms of ports and sockets.

One of the best features of the Tripp Lite 1300VA is that you can replace the batteries. Most uninterruptible power supplies have a lifespan of around 3 to 5 years (what the warranty normally covers), after which they are blown. 

This life can be even shorter if you use the backup battery frequently. You can purchase replacement batteries directly from the manufacturer and replace them yourself, extending the life of the product. This makes this inverter one of the best options for frequent use.

The Tripp Lite 1300VA is also equipped with software that allows you to pre-program the automatic shutdown of your devices. This feature makes it perfect for users who need protection when not at home. 

This feature may not be as comprehensive as that of the CyberPower CP1500AVRLCD, but we believe it is more suitable for a home installation. 

We’re not big fans of design -; it is much bigger than other backup batteries and it has a matte black finish. However, it is quite easy to hide as it has a long power cord and an audible alarm to signal a power outage. 

For more great products like this, check out our guide to the best hard drive docking stations.

APC UPS BX1500M Battery Backup & # 038; Surge arrester – Best Dataline Protection

APC’s BX1500M was another strong contender for being our top product choice. It’s just as complete as the CyberPower and Tripp-Lite inverters we reviewed and in our opinion it is one of the prettiest. But first we have to mention the references of this company. 

APC (American Power Conversion Corporation) has been manufacturing electronic peripherals, data center products and uninterruptible power systems for years, and is one of the biggest names in the business.

In terms of aesthetics, this backup battery &; Surge protector is one of the best backup batteries out there. It’s a small matte black tower, with an LCD screen and a nice APC logo engraved on the side. 

It has cooling vents around the body, which prevent it from overheating and add to the sleek look of the product. Like the Cyberpower CP1500AVRLCD, it will be right at home next to your modern computer. 

But you probably aren’t buying an uninterruptible power system for its looks, so let’s get down to the specs.

The battery size is 1500VA or 900W. If you use it fully charged, it will only stay on for one to two minutes. But you’re unlikely to be using a 900W system, so it should stay on for much longer. 

Fortunately, there is no need to make any assumptions, as the LCD screen provides an estimate of the usage time in minutes. The screen can also be used to monitor 20 other things like charging capacity, battery charge, input / output voltage, automatic voltage regulation, etc. 

Automatic voltage regulation is something we’ve seen on other UPS systems, and it’s an important feature to mention. It instantly and automatically corrects power fluctuations,

In terms of inputs, the APC BX1500M has 5 battery backup outlets and 5 surge protected outlets. In addition, it has a USB port and a serial port, 2 surge protected Ethernet ports and 2 surge protected coaxial ports. 

It’s not quite as well equipped as the Cyberpower CP1500AVRLCD, but it’s still one of the best in its class.

The last thing that impressed us about this UPS system is that the batteries are replaceable. Like the Tripp-Lite 1300VA, you can extend the life of this backup battery by purchasing one of their replacement batteries. 

The estimated lifespan of such a battery is only 3-5 years, which is great value for money. The system is also covered by a 3-year warranty that covers your connected equipment up to $ 250,000. 

Apart from a few customers who complain about the annoying alarm ringing, this product frequently receives 5-star reviews on Amazon. It is one of the best UPS systems on the market.

AmazonBasics Standby 400VA 255W UPS – Best UPS

So far, we have reviewed a large number of complex and high-end UPS battery backup products. They come with LCD screens, plenty of ports and all kinds of extra features to protect your devices. But, what if you just need something simple. 

What if you just want to plug your devices into an inverter that will keep them on for a while when power is restored. Well, simplicity is what AmazonBasics does best. 

Amazon today manufactures thousands of its own brand products in almost every industry imaginable. They are taking the market by storm because they can outperform the competition and deliver incredible value to their customers.

The AmazonBasics backup UPS is by no means the best UPS on the market. It doesn’t have an LCD screen, there aren’t a lot of extra functions, and you only have a few sockets. 

However, we believe it is ideal for people with a simple home computer setup. It is equipped with 6 outlets -, 3 outlets protected against surges and 3 battery backup outlets. 

This means you can plug in your computer, hard drive, and anything else that might be at risk in the event of a power failure. Then you have 3 spare sockets for other devices like laser printers and external monitors. Of course, since there is no LCD screen, there is no

When purchasing a simple uninterruptible power supply system like this, it is important to determine the power consumption of your installation. 

Most devices have a wattage label or you can do a Google search. The battery size of this UPS system is 400VA or 225W which is considerably smaller than more expensive backup batteries. 

However, as long as your total consumption is around 80% of 225W, it should work just fine.

The AmazonBasics backup UPS comes with a 1.5m power cord, so it’s easy to install one in your office environment. Plus, it’s backed by a one-year AmazonBasics warranty, which protects your connected equipment for up to $ 75,000. 

The only small problem with this product is that it does not have an auto-restart feature. This means that in the event of a power cut, it will not automatically reconnect to the mains. 

It is therefore practically useless for equipment which must remain switched on at all times. But, if you need to be present when the power is off, it will give you a brief window of time to save your work and shut down connected equipment.

Forza NT751 – UPS 750VA- 375W Backup battery – Best Budget

Another great budget option is Forza’s UPS system. It’s only slightly more expensive than the AmazonBasics UPS we reviewed last, and it comes with a few extra features. 

When considering a cost-effective UPS system like this, it’s important to consider your needs before you buy. For example, how many outlets do you need that are battery backed up? 

Do you need it to automatically turn back on when power returns after a blackout? Do you need phone ports or a USB port? By answering these questions, you will be able to find the most economical battery backup product for you.

The battery of the Forza NT-751 is slightly larger than that of the AmazonBasics UPS -; it is 750VA or 375W. This means that it will keep your devices on for longer in the event of a power outage. 

It also means that this UPS system can support more powerful electronic equipment. If you read the reviews on Amazon, you will see that customers have used this inverter to power recliners, DTV receivers, cable modems, and more. 

It is one of the best performing UPS battery backup power products on the market.

It doesn’t have as many outlets and ports as UPS systems that cost $ 100 or more. However, Forza made the best possible use of the space and energy available to it. 

There are only 6 outlets in total, but 5 of them are equipped with surge protection, battery backup and voltage regulator. The other outlet only has surge protection. 

This means that this UPS is the second most emergency power outlets on this list, and one of the cheapest. It also has two ethernet ports, which allows it to power your Internet in the event of a power failure. However, due to the relatively small size of the battery,

When we looked at the reviews of this product, we noticed one complaint that popped up several times -; the alarm sound cannot be muted and it can get quite annoying. 

It helps if there is an alarm to tell you when it has switched to battery power. But it doesn’t have a mute button. So if you run it on low voltage, you might have to deal with this incessant noise for quite a long time. 

This is a relatively minor complaint and it won’t be a problem if you use this inverter to save time to back up files and shut down your computer. It is one of the best performing uninterruptible power systems for under $ 100.

Buying Guide

The brands behind the battery backup products on this list may not all be well-known computer brands, but they all have a reputation for making high quality products. 

We’ve also included products from non-IT brands like AmazonBasics – they might not be the best products on the market, but they give customers the same features at a much lower price.

Reviews – One of the best things about shopping online is that you can read hundreds of reviews for every product. Back then, you should have trusted the seller or asked your friends for advice. 

Today you have access to other customers who have no interest in giving you misleading information. However, if you lead a very active lifestyle, you probably don’t have time to read every review, and that’s where we come in. 

As part of our research for buying guides, we go through the reviews section to learn about the pros and cons of each product.

Price – Price is an important consideration in any purchase. In general, the more money you have to spend, the better the quality and the more features you can afford. 

However, you need to decide if the more expensive product is the best for you. There may be a budget option that suits your needs, which could save you a lot of money. 

We try to include products from the whole price range. Check out our Best Value and Premium Product sections for both ends of the spectrum.

Ports – Some modern battery backup systems have additional products, such as USB ports. 

These can be very useful if you want to charge your smartphone or other devices, next to your computer. Some UPS backup batteries also have ethernet ports, network and serial ports, and coaxial ports, which allow you to keep your phone and the Internet connected.

Outlets – One of the main selling points of a backup battery is the number of plugs (also called outlets) it has. If you need to plug in your laptop, PC, additional monitor, etc. 

Before you start looking for the perfect backup battery, find out how many outlets you need. Most UPSs separate their outlets into backup outlets and surge protected outlets. 

The backup battery outlets are the only ones that will continue to function in the event of a power failure.

Size of the battery – The size of the battery is measured in volt-amperes (VA). This measurement indicates the potential current for which the batteries are intended. 

The higher the number, the longer the battery lasts. If you are using a high-tech computer system, you should look for a 1000VA or higher UPS.

Run Time – When the power goes out, you need to know how much time you have left before the battery dies out. 

This gives you time to save important files, close programs, and safely shut down your computer.

Surge Protection – A power surge can cause permanent damage to electrical products. In addition to the backup battery, it is useful to have a product that protects your electrical devices against surges.